FAQ
Public Records Act Requests
What is the California Public Records Act?
The California Public Records Act (CPRA) is a state law found in California Government Code Section 7920.000 et seq. The CPRA declares that “access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state”. The statutory presumption is that ““public records” are subject to disclosure upon request, unless a specific exemption applies.
What are public records?
"Public Records" includes “any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public’s business prepared, owned, used, or retained” by the City of Oroville, “regardless of physical form or characteristics."
How to submit a PRA request?
Requests should be submitted to the Public Records Office at c[email protected] or through this portal. If a PRA request is received by other city departments, it must be forwarded to the City Clerk for handling.
Who can submit a PRA request?
Any member of the public can submit a PRA request.
Can requester drop in to inspect public records?
No. Identification and collection of potentially responsive records are only some of the steps involved in responding to requests. The collected records must be reviewed to ensure that they are in fact responsive to the request and to assess whether they are subject to redaction to protect the privacy rights of others and consistent with applicable legal privileges and exemptions. Each of the steps in the process takes time.
Do public records have to be produced in ten days?
No. The City of Oroville is required to determine within 10 days (can be extended to 24 days for voluminous/complex requests) after receipt of a records request whether or not the requested records are subject to disclosure, and to notify the person making the request of the reasons for that determination.
What costs can be charged to the PRA requester?
The City charges 10 cents per page if printing the responsive documents. Otherwise, records will be released to the requestor electronically at no charge.
Is the City required to create records that do not exist in order to comply with a PRA request?
No. The City is only responsible for providing existing documents and records that are maintained by the City.
What is the difference between the Federal Freedom of Information Act and the California Public Records Act?
The Federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides the public the right to request access to records from federal government agencies.
The California Public Records Act (CPRA) provides the public the right to request access to records from state and local government agencies. The CPRA is modeled on FOIA.
How to request the Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700)?
To obtain a copy of the Form 700 of a public official, you may e-mail your request to [email protected] or submit a request through this portal.